Alabama

Preparing your child for surgery (video)

"No matter what type of surgery the child is having, every child should be prepared and age appropriately educated. Nothing should come as a surprise to them," said Linda McAlister, director of Surgical Services at Children's South. (Children's Hospital video)

Preparing a child for surgery is one of the most important things a parent can do when the child needs an operation. Proper preparation can alleviate fears and decrease anxiety for both the parent and child.

"No matter what type of surgery the child is having, every child should be prepared and age appropriately educated. Nothing should come as a surprise to them," said Linda McAlister, director of Surgical Services at Children's South.

Parents can begin by making sure they understand the procedure the child is having, if and how the child will be anesthetized as well as the risk involved. If you are uncertain, it is okay to seek clarification. McAllister also suggested:

Communicate with your care provider. Good communication with your healthcare provider builds confidence, and a confident parent is a calm parent. If your children see that their parents are calm, it puts them at ease as well.

Make sure you take good care of yourself by eating well and getting plenty of rest. Surround yourself with a strong support group; don't be afraid to ask family and friends for help.

There are also several things that caregivers need to keep in mind when helping their child adjust before and after a procedure, depending on the age of the patient. The experts at Children's Hospital offer these tips to better plan for a surgery:

Infants and Toddlers

After surgery, infants and toddlers need lots of nurturing and consoling. They are in a different environment, they haven't had anything to eat or drink prior their surgery and they feel strange from the anesthesia.

This age group is generally fussy after a procedure and sometimes can't verbalize why. For this reason, be sure to administer the pain medication as the doctor advised you.

Preschool

When children reach preschool, they have a great deal of fear associated with having surgery. They are afraid of being separated from their parents and afraid of pain.

Assure your child that you will be nearby the entire time, they will have medicine to help the pain and the surgery is to make them better, not hurt them.

Preschoolers are comforted by familiar objects. Let them bring their favorite blanket or stuffed animal to the hospital with them.

After surgery, preschoolers tend to be irritable and require a great deal of patience from mom and dad. Generally, once their pain is under control, they are ready to play.

School Age:

The school age child is old enough to understand more of what is going to happen, yet they still experience a significant amount of anxiety and fear. The difference is that these children tend to keep their concerns to themselves.

• Language choice is also very important. Avoid phrases such as being "put to sleep" or "they will give you gas." To a child, these phrases mean very different things than what you may intend. Instead, explain to them that they will go to sleep, they will not wake up during the surgery, but they will wake up right after it is over.

• Don't tell your child it is not going to hurt. Tell them, "it may hurt just a little, but the nurse will give you medicine to make you feel better."

After surgery, remember your child may not verbalize his concerns, so reassure him he will get better every day. Encourage visits, when appropriate, from friends and loved ones.

Adolescent

The Adolescent child's main fears include the fear of dying and/or becoming disfigured as a result of their surgery. They also fear a loss of control.

This age group needs a thorough explanation of what will be happening to them, and they need to have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their procedure and concerns with their doctor.

Allowing them to bring personal electronics and other items of distraction will help them deal with their stress more effectively.

After surgery, this age group may deny they are in pain or deny symptoms of complications in order to remain in control or avoid embarrassment. Look for nonverbal cues that something may be wrong, and reassure them of the importance of letting you know what they are feeling.

Last year, more than 7,000 children had surgery at Children's South, and the facility performs approximately 30 surgeries each day. Children's South provides the following services: ENT, Ophthalmology, Dental, GU, Orthopedics, Pediatric GYN and Plastic Surgery.

For more information on this and other children's health and safety issues, please visit www.chsys.org.